In a gesture of goodwill during the holy month of Ramzan, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday pardoned suspended head constable Abdul Ahad Jan who had flung a shoe at him during an Independence Day function, and ordered his release.
Jan and Abdullah were seen praying together in video footage released by a local TV channel. Abdullah said he was “against taking any action (against Jan) from Day One’’.
He also ordered the police to withdraw the case against Jan.
The CM called Jan to his residence and after hearing him out, directed his office to send someone to accompany him to his village in Bandipora, 40 km northeast of Srinagar.
“The holy month of Ramzan teaches us to be compassionate and forgive everyone,” Abdullah said. “My steps are in conformity with the teachings of Islam, which does not preach hatred but only love ...,” he said.
On Tuesday, as curfew was lifted in many parts of Kashmir, a man injured during protests on Friday died at a hospital.
The police said Mohammad Abass Dobi (35) was injured during a stampede triggered after security forces chased a stone-throwing mob in South Kashmir’s Mattan town.
{{/usCountry}}The police said Mohammad Abass Dobi (35) was injured during a stampede triggered after security forces chased a stone-throwing mob in South Kashmir’s Mattan town.
{{/usCountry}}But local residents alleged he was beaten up by the police.
“He had a spinal cord injury and all his four limbs were paralysed,” said S.A. Tabish, medical superintendent of the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences in Srinagar, where Dobi was admitted.
The death triggered protests in Anantnag town, prompting authorities to impose curfew.
In North Kashmir, curfew was clamped in Trehgam area of Kupwara district after an overnight police raid on a house to arrest some stone-throwers led to further protests. The police said during the raid some unidentified militants fired at them, injuring a policeman.
With hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani calling for a break in shutdowns on Tuesday, markets, schools, and offices opened after six days in Srinagar.